Morning folks, I'm a relatively new ham and started following amsat only a few months so forgive something of a novice question.
The biggest trouble I see the community hitching a ride to a high orbit although low orbits seem to be easy to get. So my question is this, who says we can't launch a sat in LEO and design it to move itself up to a higher orbit? I mean if NASA can build probes capable of reaching mars, it stands to reason we can build a bird to move only a few thousand miles.
Thanks, Joshua Abraham, KJ4VYR
On 10/18/12 08:44, Joshua wrote:
Morning folks, I'm a relatively new ham and started following amsat only a few months so forgive something of a novice question.
The biggest trouble I see the community hitching a ride to a high orbit although low orbits seem to be easy to get. So my question is this, who says we can't launch a sat in LEO and design it to move itself up to a higher orbit? I mean if NASA can build probes capable of reaching mars, it stands to reason we can build a bird to move only a few thousand miles.
Thanks, Joshua Abraham, KJ4VYR
It absolutely could be done -- with the right amount of money. I'm not sure that a kick motor would ultimately be cheaper than a flight designed to get something into HEO, nor as safe.
It's really all about money, several millions of little dollarettes...
--STeve Andre' wb8wsf en72
On 10/18/2012 06:16 PM, STeve Andre' wrote:
It absolutely could be done -- with the right amount of money. I'm not sure that a kick motor would ultimately be cheaper than a flight designed to get something into HEO, nor as safe.
I think the problem with traditional kick motors is that they're big and heavy. Pretty much mandating a Fridge-Sat, not a Rubik-Sat. Other propulsion systems may be better suited to a small format.
I wonder what would happen if you electrically detonated a large firearms cartridge in a small satellite. I mean, exactly how much of a 'kick' do you need to get a small satellite up to a reasonable height? Perhaps this is an experiment some university should conduct.
On 2012.10.19 08:19, Gus 8P6SM wrote:
On 10/18/2012 06:16 PM, STeve Andre' wrote:
It absolutely could be done -- with the right amount of money. I'm not sure that a kick motor would ultimately be cheaper than a flight designed to get something into HEO, nor as safe.
I think the problem with traditional kick motors is that they're big and heavy. Pretty much mandating a Fridge-Sat, not a Rubik-Sat. Other propulsion systems may be better suited to a small format.
I wonder what would happen if you electrically detonated a large firearms cartridge in a small satellite. I mean, exactly how much of a 'kick' do you need to get a small satellite up to a reasonable height? Perhaps this is an experiment some university should conduct.
Here's also interesting concept and figures:
http://nextbigfuture.com/2012/02/electrolysis-propulsion-for-cubesat.html
73! Zilvis LY2SS
Hi all,
For those interested in how to get from LEO to HEO - well at least to MEO, here is a link to some slides produced by David G0MRF back in 2009 that explains quite a lot about the subject.
http://mstl.atl.calpoly.edu/~bklofas/Presentations/AMSATUK2009/2c_Bowman-MEO...
As it happens I am presently on a very early train going to Glasgow to deliver the Flight Model hardware for the FUNcube sub-system for integration into the UKube 3U spacecraft. This is being assembled at Clyde Space Ltd and is scheduled to be launched in March next year.
The FUNcube subsystem on this spacecraft is intended to provide a linear U/V transponder for amateur use and telemetry for school students. AMSAT-UK is delighted to have been given the opportunity to join in this project and is grateful to those who made this happen, to all their volunteers who have worked so hard to turn the idea into a reality, and to the many supporters who have donated towards the costs.
As well as our FUNcube subsystem, there is also a U/V transceiver from ISIS BV on board and this also has AO16 FMtoDSB functionality as well.
The next couple of weeks should also see us finish the testing and integration of FUNcube-1 which is another, separate, complete, 1U spacecraft, and which is presently expected to launch in April.
more news later
73
Graham G3VZV
participants (5)
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Graham Shirville -
Gus 8P6SM -
Joshua -
STeve Andre' -
Zilvinas, LY2SS